The Balding Blog

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia Areata (AA) is a condition which is seen often by specialists in the field. With regards to the seriousness of the state as well as the period it’s reached, treatment for AA could be quite successful. As you are able to observe in our patient pictures, bouts of AA will often be stopped by treatment.

Many Doctors urge steroid shots which include multiple shots to the scalp. These may be unpleasant and distressing. Some offer minoxidil, which has been found to be quite successful.

With minoxidil you are not able to deal with AA of any areas of your body such as the facial skin. If this can be the situation for you personally please contact your GP. In addition, individuals below the age of 16 who have the symptoms of AA should contact their GP.

What Causes Alopecia Areata?

We have no idea what activates and encourages the development of AA baldness. There are lots of variables that could determine the length of AA however.

Seasonal changes

Mental long term chronic stress

Shock and unexpected extreme pressure

Physical injury

Localized skin harm

Genetic predisposition

Viral/bacterial disease

Pregnancy/hormones

Allergies

Substances

What exactly is Alopecia Areata?

AA is characterised by abrupt patchy loss, which is due to a lot of follicles going into the telogen stage (resting) earlier than normal. The reason for AA is unknown but such a Alopecia falls to the class of autoimmune disorders. AA is comparatively common and may be experienced by 1 man in 1000 at sometime within their life. Sometimes the condition becomes quite extensive and serious and grows into Alopecia Universalis or Alopecia Totalis. AA is thought to have an autoimmune mechanism. There might be a differnet cause however, for example extreme anxiety or a sudden shock.

AA and Long Term Stress

Among the difficulties with defining the need for some journal reports on anxiety and AA is the deficiency control groups for direct comparison and assessment. Further, the following anxiety as an effect of baldness can confuse the matter in these necessarily retrospective studies.

AA and Shock, or Abrupt Extreme Pressure

There have been several reports on individual instances where clearly defined unexpected pressure occasions have preceded AA development. The psychological trauma of a household death, or being associated with an automobile crash without serious harm, continues to be proposed as causes for AA start.

Alopecia Areata as well as Physical Injury

There’s a fair quantity of case history evidence showing that physical injury can trigger the start of AA.

Just recently has there been a demonstration of a physical connection between injury and autoimmune diseases. Cells under physical pressure can create heat shock proteins (HSPs). As the name implies HSPs are generated when cells are given heat shock. The HSPs play a housekeeping function in immune system reactions.

AA and Localised Skin Harm

Cuts, scrapes, as well as other abrasions of standard haired skin are usually the focus for the start of a fresh bout of baldness in AA susceptible individuals. Paradoxically, similar abrasions in regions of skin already impacted by Alopecia Areata could function as the focus of temporary hair regrowth. Harm is proven to boost anagen hair follicle development in skin immediately surrounding the wounded site.

It’s been demonstrated that there’s a higher prevalence of AA happening in people related genetically. This implies that some individuals are predisposed genetically towards the evolution of AA. The are a number of research groups that have been analyzing the genes of those who develop the condition. They have some genes which are more common in thoes who have AA.

AA and Disease

Infection of follicles continues to be implicated by a minumum of one research group in growth of AA. Nevertheless, research by other groups has neglected to ensure the possible connection. HIV infection has additionally been indicated as an expected cause for AA start. Other trichologists propose general viral/bacterial diseases may boost the immune system into an incorrect reaction against hair follicles in susceptible individuals.

The clear connection between hormonal changes and Alopecia Areata was understood for many time. Most noteworthy would be the instances of Alopecia start during late period pregnancy. Puberty and menopause are also proposed as a period of possible AA start or remission.

Interestingly, statistical evaluation of Asians with this problem revealed no such connection. This might indicate the distinct genetic makeup of distinct races should be considered when describing susceptibility to AA development.

AA and Compounds

Formaldehyde and pesticides are also proposed, although not shown, as a possible influence in the evolution of AA.

A considerable number of individuals with AA discover the area of the hair thinning cycles in time with all the seasons. A number of people get the hair thinning is a lot more wide-ranging in winter and also have temporary, partial regrowth in summer.